The Seahawks bolted to a 13-0 lead surrendered a second-quarter touchdown and went into halftime holding a 13-7 lead. A lackluster performance by the offense in the second half allowed the Rams to mount a comeback and eventually win the game.
SELF INFLICTED WOUNDS
The main culprit for the Seahawk’s lack of production in the second half and the game was the rash of self-inflicted wounds. The Seahawks racked up 12 penalties for 130 yards. Add a lack of execution to the offense and a lack of attention to detail as the culprits to the team’s dismal second-half performances.
SECOND HALF STRUGGLES
A Jason Myers field goal on the Seahawks second drive of the game stretched the lead to 16-7. A punt on the next offensive possession was followed by a near-catastrophic injury to Geno Smith. While scrambling to elude the Ram’s pass rush Smith took a monster hit from Aaron Donald who hit Smith squarely on his shoulder which caused the QB to land awkwardly. Drew Lock replaced Smith and threw a drive-stopping incomplete pass on third and nine.
DEFENSE GIVES A LIFELINE
A Riq Wolen interception of a Mathew Stafford pass gave the ball back to the offense and the opportunity to increase the lead. Incomplete passed on first and third down by Lock gave the ball back to the Rams who scored on the next possession. A 9-play 68-yard drive was capped by a Darrell Henderson one-yard run narrowed the Rams deficit to just two points at 16-14. A Lock interception on the Seahawk’s next offensive possession gave life to the Rams offense who marched down the field to the Seahawk’s four-yard line.
A DEFENSIVE STAND
A valiant stand by the Seahawk’s defense forced the Rams to settle for a field goal and take a 17-16 lead with 1:31 left in the game. Smith ren-entered the game and marched the Seahawk’s offense to the LA 37-yard line. Jason Myers’s 55-yard field goal sailed wide right for another Rams victory over the Seahawks.For Seahawk’s head coach Pete Carroll the loss was a major disappointment
“This was the most disappointing loss for us today,” said Carroll. “Because of the way we did it. We made it really hard on ourselves so many times in this game with the calls that were made. I’m not disputing any of them. I’m just saying we made… the penalties that happened were just out of line for us. We have not been good in that area during the season in general and today really blew up on us and gave them a really good chance to take advantage of it and they did and found out that they could get their drive together and get what they needed before the field goal drive. ” Said Carroll during his post-game press conference.
“There (were) big penalties in that one and then we did it again in the final drive too. I’m really disappointed because it feels like we did that to ourselves. We talk so much about that and we’re trying to make sure that’s not part of our game and shoot, it was the biggest part of the game I thought. Nice job by them to finish it. They did a good job to do what they need to do with the clock and all that, but they gave us a chance. Geno Smith was able to pop back out there, threw a couple great balls to give us a shot. We just didn’t hit our field goal to win the game. That’s kind of what the NFL is.”
